Which type of attack specifically targets the safety mechanisms of industrial control systems to cause physical damage?

The correct answer is C. Stuxnet-like attack. A Stuxnet-like attack is the correct answer because Stuxnet (discovered ~2010) was specifically engineered to target industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA) - in that case, Iranian uranium enrichment centrifuges - by sabotaging their physical operation while hiding the damage from

Attacks and Countermeasures

Question

Options

ARansomware attack
BLogic bomb
CStuxnet-like attack
DTrojan horse

How the community answered

(53 responses)

A
4% (2)
B
17% (9)
C
74% (39)
D
6% (3)

Explanation

A Stuxnet-like attack is the correct answer because Stuxnet (discovered ~2010) was specifically engineered to target industrial control systems (ICS/SCADA) - in that case, Iranian uranium enrichment centrifuges - by sabotaging their physical operation while hiding the damage from operators. Ransomware encrypts data for financial extortion and doesn't inherently target physical machinery. A logic bomb is malicious code that triggers on a condition (e.g., a date), but it's a delivery mechanism, not a category defined by targeting ICS safety systems. A Trojan horse is also a delivery mechanism - malware disguised as legitimate software - with no specific link to physical/industrial damage.

Memory tip: Think "Stuxnet = physical destruction of industrial systems" - the St in Stuxnet rhymes with Steel and Structure, reminding you it attacks physical infrastructure, not just data.

Topics

#ICS attacks#Stuxnet#SCADA/PLCs#Physical damage

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